Here’s What You Need to Have in Your Home Toolkit

Are you putting together a home toolkit? It’s a must-have if you plan to take on DIY projects at home.

Homeowners and apartment dwellers alike are doing more around the house. The reasons vary from feeling more accomplished and self-sufficient to saving a few bucks on having a handyman do the work.

Considering that a handyman can cost $65 per hour, a toolkit for home would be a great thing to have around the house.

If you’re planning on doing work around the house, keep reading.

This guide will tell you what you’re going to need in your home toolkit.

What Types of Projects Are You Planning?

The first question you’ll want to answer before you buy tools for our home toolkit is what are you planning to do at home?

Maybe you want to build a deck, or you’re just planning on taking care of a few things around your home. Maybe you need tools to refurbish electronics.

The answer to that question will determine what you’ll need in your toolkit.

Not only that but if you’re planning to get some major use out of your tools, it would make sense to invest in high-quality tools.

The most common repairs that can easily be done around the house are:

Fix leaky faucets & pipes

Stop a running toilet

Hang curtains

Hang pictures & artwork

Unclog drains

Furniture assembly/Tightening

Replace a light switch

Fix a stuck garbage disposal

Once you determine what you’re going to use your tools for, then you can put together your home toolkit.

Must-Have Tools for Your Home Tool Kit

For the common tasks listed above, you’re going to want to get quality tools.

Sure, you can run to the dollar store and pick up some of these tools, but odds are, they won’t last that long. You’re going to get some use out of them, so you’re going to need to invest in tools that will last.

Safety Glasses

Always put your health and safety first. Protecting your eyes is no exception. Even if you already wear glasses, you need to use protective eyewear.

Claw Hammer

Hammers come in many shapes and sizes. Keep it simple and look for a 16oz., claw hammer. That will be able to handle most projects and repairs.

Tape Measure

Phillips Head & Flat Head Screwdrivers

You’re more likely to come across Phillips head screws because they offer more torque. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have both. Ideally, you’ll want a set of three flat head and three Philips head screwdrivers in sizes #1, #2, and #3.

If you don’t have a lot of storage, get a few screwdrivers with removable tips.

Flashlight

You’ll need a good flashlight in case the power goes out and to find small parts that may have fallen.

Crescent Wrench

This is a must have because it’s adjustable. That means it won’t slip and cause damage.

Socket Wrench

A socket wrench is a dream come true if you’re putting together furniture. Those projects usually need you to tighten a lot of nuts and bolts. You can do that without removing a regular wrench and resize it.

Level

There’s nothing worse than hanging a picture crooked. Get a level or at the very least download an app like iHandy.

Cordless Drill

There are dozens of jobs where a drill will come in handy. Any time you’re hanging something like a TV, curtains, or pictures, you need a drill. It will make your life easier.

Utility Knife

Some work around the house may require cutting and scraping. This is the perfect tool for that. Plus, you’ll have a knife handy for opening up packages.

Tool Box

You’re going to need a place to store and organize your tools. Buy a toolbox that’s sturdy and don’t be afraid to get a bigger one than you need. It’s easier to organize and gives you room to grow your home toolkit.

WD-40

What’s the fastest way to fix squeaky door hinges? Spray a little WD-40 on them. This is also a must have to loosen up and tighten bolts.

Power Tools

Once you have the basic tools in your home tool kit, you can decide how advanced you want to go. Again, it’s going to depend on the types of projects you want to work on, and the materials you’re going to work with.

Tool Consult has an extensive list of power tools that will help you take on any project. But in brief, these are the power tools you’re going to want to have around the house.

Sander

This is a great tool to have if you’re working on a project that requires smoothing down wood or paint removal. A 5″ random orbital sander will work for most jobs.

Circular Saw

This is a great tool to have if you find you’re doing a lot of woodwork. It’s a versatile tool that can cut plywood, hardwoods, and fiberboard. Your cuts can be as fine or as rough as you’d like.

Saw Horses

Saw horses will give you leverage at the right height. This will be a good investment if you find you’re doing a lot of projects and you’re tired of working on the ground.

Shop-Vac

You’re going to make a mess. Having a shop vac will make cleaning up sawdust and other debris a breeze. Make sure that you pick a model that has a collection bag for dust particles.

Before buying power tools, you’re going to want to think about your budget and whether you need them to be portable.

Building Your Home Tool Kit

Now that you know what you should have in your home tool kit, it’s time to put it together.

You don’t need to go out and buy everything in one day. That’s going to put a big dent in your wallet. Instead, build up your toolkit over time.

This will allow you to invest in quality tools.

Are you ready to start tool shopping? Check out our marketplace to see what items are for sale.